BrightSource Energy, Inc. has signed contracts with Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) for a total of 1,310 megawatts (MW) of solar thermal power.
Privately held BrightSource Energy is the parent company of BrightSource Industries (Israel).
The power purchase agreements, covering seven projects, supersede the agreements PG&E executed with BrightSource in April 2008 for up to 900 MW of solar thermal power. The earlier deal was for 500 MW, with options for an additional 400 MW.
The first of these solar power plants, sized at 110 MW and located in Ivanpah, Calif., is contracted to begin operation in 2012. BrightSource will build and place in commercial operation each of its plants as quickly as permitting and infrastructure allow.
The seven projects are expected to produce 3,666 gigawatt-hours of power each year, equal to the annual consumption of about 530,000 average homes.
PG&E senior vice president of energy supply John Conway said, "Through these agreements with BrightSource, we can harness the sun’s energy to meet our customers’ power requirements when they need it most during hot summer days.”
BrightSource Energy, Inc. now has contracted to sell more than 2,600 megawatts of power to be generated using its proprietary solar thermal technology.
Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE: PCG), is one of the largest combined natural gas and electric utilities in the United States. The company delivers some of the nation’s cleanest energy to 15 million people in northern and central California.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on May 14, 2009
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